World AIDS Day: Verifying Facts and Myths surrounding Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

 “The world can end AIDS – if everyone’s rights are protected.

With human rights at the centre, with communities in the lead, the world can end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.” This is according to the World Health Organisation {WHO}

With the ideal of rights, this year’s theme of the World AIDS Day 2024 is “Take the rights path: My health, my right!” This year, WHO in collaboration with communities “is calling on global leaders and citizens to champion the right to health by addressing the inequalities that hinder progress in ending AIDS”.

In 2023, WHO disclosed that “An estimated 39.9 million people were living with HIV globally and approximately 630 000 people died from HIV‑related causes in 2023 while an estimated 1.3 million people acquired HIV in 2023”.

HIV/AIDS is one of the diseases that has been surrounded by a lot of myths. According to Healthline “While there have been many advancements in the management of the HIV virus throughout the years, unfortunately, a lot of misinformation still exists about what it means to live with HIV”.

Here are some of the myths and facts around HIV/AIDS checked and verified.

Mosquitoes spread HIV – False.

According to Medical News Today “People may mistakenly believe a mosquito or another insect could potentially bite a person with HIV and then inject the blood into another person’s body. However, HIV would not survive in a mosquito due to the different genetic makeup compared with human DNA. Additionally, insects do not re-inject blood into a new person. This means they cannot transmit HIV”.

Also, WebMD explains that “Because the virus is passed through blood, people have worried that they could get it from biting or bloodsucking insects. Several studies show that doesn’t happen, even in areas with lots of mosquitoes and cases of HIV. When bugs bite, they don’t inject the blood of the person or animal they bit before you. Also, HIV lives for only a short time inside them.”

HIV is a death sentence – False.

According to Healthline “With proper treatment, we now expect people with HIV to live a normal life span,” says Dr. Michael Horberg, national director of HIV/AIDS for Kaiser Permanente. Since 1996, with the advent of highly active, antiretroviral therapy, a person with HIV with good access to antiretroviral therapy (ART) can expect to live a normal life span, so long as they take their prescribed medications.”

Additionally, in the words of Dr. Goje of Cleveland clinic, “With early diagnosis, surveillance and ART, those who are living with the virus can enjoy healthy and purposeful lives. They can also work and have meaningful relationships with partners, friends and family”.

If  i am getting treatment, I can not spread the virus – False

Healthline explains that “Although there have been a lot of medical advancements in the treatment of HIV, the virus can still lead to complications, and the risk of death is still significant for certain groups of people. The risk of acquiring HIV and how it affects a person varies based on age, gender, sexuality, lifestyle, and treatment”.

HIV affects childbirth and fertility – Partially True

“HIV does not affect fertility and childbirth, especially for women who are receiving appropriate and adequate treatment. However, not taking medications while been pregnant can lead to mother-to-child transmission (MTCT). Pregnant people who are living with HIV should continue treatment or medications as recommended. When a mother’s viral load is undetectable, there’s a less than 1% chance of infecting the baby” Dr. Goje of Cleveland clinic.

Healthline suggests that “The most important thing that a woman living with HIV can do when preparing for pregnancy is to work with her healthcare provider to begin ART treatment as soon as possible. Because treatment for HIV has advanced so much, if a woman takes her HIV medicine daily as recommended by a healthcare provider throughout her entire pregnancy (including labor and delivery), and continues medicine for her baby for 4 to 6 weeks after birth, the risk of transmitting HIV to the baby can be as low as 1% or less.”

More so, “There are also ways for a mother who has HIV to lower the risk of transmission in the event that the HIV viral load is higher than desired, such as choosing a C-section or bottle feeding with formula after birth. Women who are HIV negative but are looking to conceive with a male partner who carries the HIV virus may also be able to take special medication to help lower the risk of transmission to both them and their babies. For males who have HIV and are taking their ART medication, the risk of transmission is virtually zero if the viral load is undetectable.”

HIV/AIDS has no known cure, but with early detection and appropriate antiretroviral therapy, people living with the virus can lead long, fulfilling lives. With human rights at the forefront of efforts to combat the disease, more individuals will have increased access to treatment, care, and support.